Check business hours. Keep in mind that there are different jurisdictions (city, county, state, and private) along the coast of Half Moon Bay and surrounding areas. Be aware of private property and comply with posted signage and regulations. Some beach names are informal and not necessarily official.
San Mateo County's coastline is comprised of more than 300 square miles of beautiful California landscapes, with easy access to sandy beaches, redwood forests, and open spaces. The coastline encompasses the cities of Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, San Gregorio, La Honda and Pescadero. The Visit Half Moon Bay website is a joint effort of the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Office, the Half Moon Bay Hotel Business Improvement District, and the Half Moon Bay Downtown Association. Events and activities Campfire Program for Rangers Coastal Wildflower Day Facilities Available Drinking Water Available Picnic Tables and BBQ Grills Toilets with cistern in the septic system (Francis) Vaulted toilets Showers (Francis) Outdoor showers Accessibility to designated parking spaces Complies with the ADA requirements of the coastal trail Visitor Center and store Accessible to the coastal trail Wheelchair access to Francis Beach Wheelchair available at the entrance station of Francis Beach Park website Park brochure Park brochure (Spanish) Campground map Camp reservations Ocean safety restrictions No dogs on the beach, must be leashed in the park No collecting on the beach No beach fires No fireworks on the beach No fireworks Special contacts permissions for weddings and parties filming and photography permits for profit Become a park teacher Native plant restoration is constantly under way at Half Moon Bay State Beach and everywhere else state parks on the San Mateo coast. The native plant nursery has volunteers who collect seeds and cultivate the plants to place them in the appropriate habitat.
Some of the results can be seen on the native plant trail, just north of the Francis Beach fire pit. The open sandy beach areas and dunes attract numerous shorebirds that feed on the abundant invertebrates. The most notable bird you see is the tiny western snow plover that lives on beaches all year round and nests on Francis Beach between March and September. He can be seen running across the sand and the water's edge, or sitting well camouflaged in footprints in the sand.
The western snow plover is protected as a threatened species by the Federal Endangered Species Act. Their traditional nesting areas in the Francis Beach dunes are protected with a cable (“symbolic fence”). Fences with fences are erected to protect nests from predators, but they allow parents and chicks to come and go. State Parks sponsors the Snowy Plover Watch volunteer program to help study and protect plovers along the coast of San Mateo County.
Dogs are not allowed on the beaches and must be on a leash anywhere in the park. A horse trail runs parallel to the coastal path from Dunes Beach to Francis Beach. Horses are restricted to the designated trail and are not allowed on state beaches. Francis Beach has an all-terrain beach wheelchair, which was made possible in part thanks to a grant from the local section of the Lions Club.
Unlike street wheelchairs, this specially designed chair has large balloon tires that allow it to be used on the beach without sinking into the sand. With this chair, wheelchair users can access the beach at several locations along Half Moon Bay State Beach. The chair is available for public use at no cost and can be picked up at the Francis State Beach entrance station on Kelly Avenue. Native American inhabitants used the beaches for digging clams and fishing. The streams provided fresh water and also contributed to the habitat where food could be collected.
At least two prehistoric sites have been found near Frenchman's Creek. With your generous donations, the Coastal State Parks Association can fund dozens of projects each year to help our local state parks. Many involve supporting educational programs, maintaining interpretive signage, beautifying entry stations, improving access to parks, and funding many other daily operations. Enter your email below and we'll keep you updated on the latest projects and events.
The Coastal State Parks Association is an official non-profit partner of the San Mateo Parks and Recreation sector of the State of California. Visit www, parks, ca, gov for more information on California state parks. Our federal identification number (EIN) is 94-3130418. Admission to the beach is free, but there is a fee for parking. There are also several designated parking spaces for trucks with horse trailers.
You can pay for parking at a self-service kiosk that accepts credit and debit cards, but don't let the lack of staff in the establishment give you the impression that no one is aware: local law enforcement does walk around the parking lot and fine cars that park without paying. The coast of San Mateo County, around Half Moon Bay, is one of the largest beach areas in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Half Moon Bay City Council is the city's governing body and is comprised of five elected members. Typical weather patterns in Half Moon Bay include fog in summer, clear, crisp days in fall and spring, and wet, windy winters.
It houses the Half Moon Bay State Beach Visitor Center, which is open on weekends and offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about the park's ecology and history. Being in California's coastal area, the city is subject to the California Coastal Act, which requires that all beaches remain open and accessible to the public 24 hours a day. Half Moon Bay and the coast of San Mateo County are a major recreational destination for the Bay Area and for visitors from around the world. The California Coastal Trail is a much appreciated feature of Half Moon Bay, and can be accessed from several locations along the coast. The Half Moon Bay State Beach visitor center is located in Francis Beach and is open Saturday and Sunday (weather and volunteer availability permitting).
According to Barbara VanderWerf, in her book The Coastside Trail Guide Book, local farmers sold their land to property developers in anticipation of the arrival of the railroad, and by 1908 most of the façade of Half Moon Bay had been subdivided into streets and building lots. Mirada Surf West is located in El Granada, just south of Pillar Point Harbor (just north of Half Moon Bay). Drive to the end of Poplar Street in Half Moon Bay and you'll find the Blufftop Coastal Park, where Poplar Beach is located. Search all accommodations 1855 Zaballa House Aristocrat Hotel Beach House Hotel Cypress Inn On Miramar Beach Half Moon Bay Inn Half Moon Bay Lodge Harbor View Inn at Mavericks Mill Rose Inn Nantucket Whale Inn Ocean View Inn Oceano Hotel & Spa Quality Inn Seal Cove Inn The Miramar Inn and Suites The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.
Schedule your class for a free excursion to the San Mateo coast and visit Half Moon Bay State Beach, Pescadero Marsh State Natural Preserve, or Bean Hollow State Beach. At the southern end of the park is Francis Beach, also sometimes called Kelly Beach because of its location at the western end of Kelly Street in Half Moon Bay. These beaches offer incredible recreational and panoramic opportunities without the typical crowds found in the Half Moon Bay area.
